​1 Thessalonians 4:11 And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

You’re not a child you can’t depend on others for your survival. You have to learn to work with your hands. If a blessing comes your way store things back for a rainy day.

If God gives you a fishing pole, fish! Don't wait for someone else to catch all the fish!

Don't become Codependent on others!

If someone takes the time to teach you a skill use it to better yourself and take care of your family!

You need to live a quiet life where no one gets into your business nor you them. Jesus doesn't want us being busy bodies. It doesn't matter what the neighbors have. It matters what you have been given.

The Apostle Paul is telling us to live quiet lives separating ourselves from the world and setting our own ambition with the skills that we know with our hands. He’s telling us not to depend on others for support. We have to depend on ourselves and God. God will bless the work of our hands our skills if we live respectful godly lives being a good example for others to follow. We should never have to depend on someone else to feed and clothe us or our families as long as we are able to work with our hands.Women- Can make arts and crafts, make soap or shampoo, sew, they can clean and do laundry for others. They can work in a garden and sell their vegetables at markets. They can learn to can their vegetables. They can sell their pastries or cakes or food. They can babysit other children while other women in their community are at work. Be a working strong woman in your community for other women to follow. Pray and find out what your gifts are! It may be to lead other women into the workforce to help support their families.

Men- Can build things or make things with their hands. Jesus was a carpenter by trade and Paul was a Law Professor that humbled himself to become a tent maker by trade. He was able to support his ministry at many times by making tents and selling them. He worked with other tent makers and ministered to them. Jesus was a carpenter, Matthew was an accountant a tax collector, Peter was a fisherman, Luke a doctor. Discover your skills where you aren’t dependent on others.

Colossians 1:10 So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.

Acts 18:3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.

​Sometimes in life, we have to humble ourselves and take less pay that will eventually lead to more pay or lead for more doors to open. We first have to pray for the door to open and once the door opens others will follow. I once met a man that used to be a president of a failed bank, he changed his occupation after the big oil boom to becoming a bread maker at a local market and he said he’d never been happier. He wasn’t living under all the pressure! It might be time for you to step down from all the pressure because of age or health. Whatever the reason God will prepare you for the next journey in your life.

​1 Timothy 2:2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Today many Christians face obstacles in their businesses that challenge the very core of their Christian beliefs. Christians started their own businesses to provide for their families and to live as an example for others to follow that may want to change their way of living and convert to being a Christian. But today’s world isn’t letting us live quiet lives they want to expose us for living Christian lives because they oppose our beliefs to our God. They wish to live disobedient lives and punish us for living obedient lives. They will even go so far to putting lawsuits on Christians for speaking out at schools or work and now they’ve gotten into our daily businesses trying to pull us into the stale drama of their own lives. Where we are forced to become a laborer to expose their corrupt lives. This has become a thorn in the flesh for Christian businesses having to put our Christian beliefs aside to appease non-believers. I think if Paul were walking the earth today he would grieve for the Christian businesses that are forced to put their Christian beliefs aside. Again, maybe he’s telling us with his wisdom to grow quietly letting not all the people see what we do with our hands. But in today’s society, we have been taught the more the numbers and exposure the more the sales. And to be honest, I’m not sure that even works. I think it goes back to word of mouth if you make a good product the words going to get out there and sales are going to increase.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.

Proverbs 2:7 He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless.Psalm 112:3 Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.

Psalm 20:4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

​Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Father God, I pray today that you open the doors for many who need to find work. I ask Lord that you bless the work of their hands that they may be fruitful in providing you with their first fruit. I pray for a hedge of protection around Christian businesses that are compromised because of their beliefs. I ask that you station your angels around them to protect them and give them the wisdom that they need to succeed in today’s world.

Amen.

Prayer of Salvation:

Lord, I admit that I am a sinner in the need of a Savior. I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God that died for all of my sins. I ask Lord that you forgive me of all my sins and help me to live a godly life living as a representative of your kingdom.Amen

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Gospels for America​My Special Pajama Time with God: with Author Patricia Kelley

You can now get my original charcoal artwork. ​Click on the Picture to take you there.​https://www.facebook.com/charcoalartwork/

Raw Grief Escaping Fire to Water is available on Amazon. It covers a personal testimony about getting over child abuse, sibling sexual abuse through spiritual strength. It also covers the same grieving process as those that grieve over the loss of a loved one.

​The Potter’s House Assembly of God Church that we built in Ghana, West Africa. We believed in young Pastor Samuel Asante-Beecham

Gospels for America helps support feed and clothe 71 orphans in Kenya through Pastor Moses Simiyu.